Psychology-Community Engagement: Partnering for Social Change

Psychology-Community Engagement: Partnering for Social Change will highlight the theory and practice of partnerships between psychologists and diverse and economically challenged communities. This grassroots initiative is spearheaded by Division 9, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, and cosponsored by 10 APA Divisions (8, 9,17, 27, 32, 34, 35, 39, 44, 45, and 48) and the Office of Socioeconomic Status in the APA Public Interest Directorate.

Easy approaches to making our work relevant are elusive, partly because there are few opportunities for researchers, practitioners, and communities to work together to define problems and discuss solutions. This event has two parts:

* Part 1: Site visits, Wednesday, August 5, 12:20 – 5:00 p.m. Through a planned, pre-conference visit to two culturally diverse and economically challenged Toronto neighborhoods, this visit will showcase a number of local partnering initiatives, with an emphasis on community perspectives on partnership; Registration is $25 (includes visiting two community centers, bus transportation and refreshments) – limited to 60 participants. Deadline for registration: July 21, 2009. 

* Part 2: APA sessions on partnering with communities, Thursday, August 6–Sunday, August 9. The site visit on Wednesday, August 5, will serve as a basis for a set of 20 division-sponsored APA conference sessions in which community members, practitioners, and scholars will present approaches to fostering psychology-community partnerships.

Event Goals

It seeks to broaden ways in which the work of APA members– whether research or practice -- can inform, and be informed by, those whose communities confront a variety of social challenges. Its goals are:

* Understand the social issues faced by diverse, economically challenged communities. This initiative will introduce psychologists to issues faced by two diverse, economically challenged urban neighborhoods that are situated in very different urban environments. We will learn how these issues are addressed by community members, community organizations, researchers, and practitioners, working together for constructive change. The program will be continued at the APA convention in the days that follow, in a series of symposia and workshops that will expand on these issues and methods in greater depth.

* Understand the challenges and benefits of working collaboratively with local communities on social issues that concern them to achieve social change. This program is intended to make concrete the complexity and challenges of working with the community. Achieving social change requires an understanding of how change occurs at the level of communities. The bus tour will allow participants to see first hand the characteristics of the physical environment, the nature of housing and recreational facilities, and the community’s diversity and complexity. The in-person sessions at the center will allow community members and professionals involved with the community to describe community initiatives and interventions, the nature of community-university partnerships, and the role that researchers and practitioners can play in partnering with community organizations to promote social change.

All are welcome! Please join us!

Questions?

For Community Partnering Initiative questions contact co-chairs:

* Michaela Hynie, PhD, York University, Program Chair, Division 9 - Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

* Susan Opotow, PhD, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, President, Division 9 - Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

For site visit registration questions, contact Toni DeSalvo-Alvano, Program Coordinator, Office on SES.

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